-
Step 1
Know what kind of space you are planning to use the projector in. You need to have an idea of the size of the room, the size of the project area or screen, and the lighting of the room when the projector is being used. Write these down before you start shopping.
-
Step 2
Familiarize yourself with ANSI lumens, which is the brightness rating of projectors. The brightness of your projector is probably the most important consideration. Here are a few guidelines: 500 to 1000 lumens is good for a 5 to 6 foot display area in a small room with no lighting; 1000 to 1500 lumens is good for an 8 to 10 foot display area with dim lighting in a medium size room; 1500 to 2000 lumens is well suited for screens that are 12 to 25 feet in a large space with regular lighting and 2000 lumens and above is good for 12 to 25 feet screens with bright lighting.
-
Step 3
Decide what resolution you need. Projector resolution works the same as resolution for a computer screen, so if you usually use a 1024 x 768 resolution on your computer, you may want to find a projector with the same or close to the same resolution.
-
Step 4
Pick out a price you are willing to pay. Projectors are not cheap, and the higher the resolution and brighter the projector, the more it is probably going to cost.
-
Step 5
Get a demonstration. If you are buying a projector for a business or some other application where it will be integral to day-to-day operations, you want to make sure it is what you want. Many dealers will give you a demonstration. While in the demonstration, try to recreate the environment where the projector will be used.
